Colombo is Sri Lanka’s capital and political, economic, cultural and transportation center. Taking a leisurely stroll through the streets of the South Asian coastal city imbued with exotic charms is truly a rewarding experience – flowers are in bloom, coconut trees sway gently in the breeze, fishermen are on stilts, sandy beaches extend, Buddhist pagodas and temples are dotted around, kind and friendly locals make you feel welcome, and aromas of spices waft into the nostrils. Hop onto a century-old train for the world’s most beautiful train ride through green tea hills and along the blue sea; onboard, sip on a cup of fragrant Ceylon red tea and take in the breathtaking views along the way, and you will feel you are in a fairytale world.

Currently, China has become Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner and source of imports as well as its fastest growing source of travelers. Statistics released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau suggest that about 12,000 Chinese travelers visited Sri Lanka in May, up 71.9% year on year. The forthcoming Beijing–Colombo service will open up more travel opportunities for business and leisure travelers from the northern and northeastern parts of China.

Friendship and trading between China and Sri Lanka have been taking place for centuries. Zhe He, the Ming dynasty’s legendary sea navigator, paid repeated visits to Sri Lanka on his epic seafaring voyages to the seas in the west. Now, Sri Lanka is an important part of the “21^st Century Silk Road on the Sea” on the Indian Ocean.

The timely opening of the Beijing-Colombo service will become an air bridge linking the two nations and contributing to their development in the fields of economy, trading, investment and tourism. Meanwhile, the new route is also one of Air China’s mostimportant moves in 2015 to cement its global presence with its hub in Beijing and expand its route network serving South and Southeast Asia.

The carrier will also start other new routes to destinations in the Asia Pacific region including Beijing–Mumbai, Beijing–Islamabad–Karachi and Beijing–Kuala Lumpur. These new routes will bring the number of destinations in the Asia Pacific region that the carrier serves up to 19, offering more travel options and benefits to business and leisure passengers traveling between Beijing and other cities in the Asia Pacific region.

Source : http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-china-to-start-beijing-colombo-service-300163600.html